Means for filling inaccessible spaces



MEANS FOR FILLING INACCESSIBLE SPACES Filed Jan. 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Aug. 21, 1934. G. L. TAPPEN 1,971,123

MEANS FOR FILLING INACGESSIBLE SPACES Filed Jan. 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet2 1 \\I K\ \A I I; m I I 3mm 6'. A. Yak Os- Patented Aug. 21, 1934 MEANSFOR FILLING INACCESSIBLE SPACES Guy L. Tappen, NewportNews, Va.

Application January 21, 1932, Serial No. 588,027

3 Claims.

The object of this invention is to deliver granular or powdered materialinto spaces which are not readily accessible. The invention is designedmore particularly for delivering granulated cork into spaces which aredesigned for heat insulation, as the spaces between decks and under theroofs of refrigerator ships and cars, which spaces are extensive and attheir ends and comers are inaccessible to the human hand or to ordinarytools. The invention provides means whereby the material is blown intoremote corners and other spaces and is packed therein so as tocompletely fill the space, and means is provided to vent the space sothat air may escape therefrom as the space is filled with the comminutedmaterial. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings andwill be hereinafter fully described, the novel features beingparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly insection of an apparatus embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view showing a modification;

.Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a space between decksor other structural elements of a refrigerator car or ship which spaceis to be filled with some heat-insulating material. According to thepresent invention, the material to be deposited in the space 1 is storedor provided in a container 2 which may be a barrel or other vessel ofany preferred form. There is also provided a pipe 3 the'ends of whichare open and the lower end of which is to be inserted into the cork orother material, indicated at 4, so that the end of the pipe will bedisposed near the bottom of the container but spaced therefrom. Theupper end of the pipe is inserted through an opening provided thereforin the lower wall 5 of the space which is to be filled and a collar orflange 6 is formed on or secured around the pipe to bear against theunderside of said wall 5 and thereby prevent the leakage of air aroundthe pipe and the opening in the wall. At a convenient point above thecontainer 2, a Y-coupling '7 is inserted in the pipe 3 and connected tothe branch of this fitting is a pipe 8 provided with a regulating valve9, of any approved form, and connected by a hose or other flexibleconnection 10 with a blower or air compressor. The blower or aircompressor may be of any approved form and is not illustrated as itforms no part of the present invention. A vent pipe 11 is fitted throughthe wall 5, adjacent the upper end of the delivery pipe 3, and the endsof this pipe are open with the lowerend being dis- L posed below thewall and the upper end close to the upper wall 12 of thejspace to befilled so that the air within the space may escape as the space isfilled.

The operation will, it is thought, be readily understood. An air blastis delivered through the pipe 8 and the coupling 7 and will rise throughthe pipe 3 to escape through the upper end of the same, the force of theblast being regulated by manipulation of the valve 9 in an obviousmanner. The draft through the pipe 3 caused by the air blast risingthrough the same will create a suction at the lower end of the pipe sothat air above the container will tend to flow into the pipe through thelower end thereof and the cork or other material will consequently besucked into the pipe and caused to flow upwardly therethrough to escapethrough the upper end of the same. The force of the blast will, ofcourse, be suflicient to carry the finely divided or powdered materialto the remote corners and angles of the insulating space and as thematerial collects and packs in the space, the air therein will escapethrough the vent pipe 11, as will be understood. After the space hasbeen entirely filled, the pipe 3 and the vent pipe 11 are withdrawn andthe openings through which they were fitted may be filled in any desiredmanner.

The apparatus is obviously exceedingly simple in construction andoperation and will speedily and efliciently deliver the insulatingmaterial into the space which is to be filled so that the operation willbe highly economical.

In Fig. 3, the container 20, holding the cork or other material 21, isprovided with an opening in its side near its bottom through which thelower end of the conveyor pipe 22 is fitted, as shown. Near its lowerend, a Y-coupling 23 is fitted in the pipe and to this coupling isattached one end of a flexible pipe 24, the opposite end thereof beingattached to the end of an air blast pipe 25 which is supported on thepipe 22, as indicated .at 26, and equipped with a regulating valve 27.

The upper end of the pipe 22 is disposed within the space to be filledand a sealing flange or collar 28 is secured on the pipe to cover theopening through which the pipe passes. A vent pipe 29 is welded to theside of the pipe 22.

Having thus described the invention, I claim.

1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a container forcomminuted material, a delivery pipe having one end disposed in thecontainer near the bottom thereof and its opposite end adapted to beinserted through the wall of a space to be filled, a sealing flangesurrounding the pipe and bearing against said wall, a coupling in saidpipe between the ends thereof, an air blast pipe connected to saidcoupling, and a relatively short vent tube of less cross sectionaldiameter than the delivery pipe adapted to be inserted throughthe wallof the space to be filled at said delivery pipe with its outer enddepending from said wall and with its inner end disposed adjacent to andspaced from the opposite wall.

2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pipe fordelivering by fluid pressure finely divided material from a source ofsupply into a space to be filled through an outlet portion of the pipewhich enters the said space through an opening in a wall for deliveringthe material in a predetermined direction, and a vent tube entering saidspace through the said wall adjacent the said pipe and terminating inspaced relation to a wall of the space remote from the opening. I

3. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a pipe fordelivering by fluid pressure finely divided material from a source 01supply into a space to be filled through an outlet portion of the pipewhich enters the space through an opening in a wall, a sealing flangefor the opening carried by said pipe, and an air vent tube having itsend portions extending from opposite faces of the flange, the inner endportion of the tube being disposed transversely of the outlet of thepipe and being oi. a length to extend through the space to be filled andterminate close to another wall in spaced relation to the outlet 01' thepipe.

GUY L. TAPPEN. [r.. s.]

